Early research has shown the drug helps shorten the recovery time of some COVID-19 patients.

WPTV

Dr. Nicholas Punch said if Jose Zacapa did not take remdesivir, he would have died.

According to one doctor, that's exactly what happened in Zacapa’s case.

"After approximately five days, we started to see great improvement in his pulmonary function. Unfortunately, I believe, if Jose did not receive remdesivir, he would have died," said Dr. Nicholas Punch.

Zacapa spent nearly three weeks in the intensive care unit after suffering complications from COVID-19. At one point, he was placed on a ventilator.

Experts caution that remdesivir is not a cure for COVID-19, and that more research still needs to be done on the anti-viral drug.

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